THE ROTTERS' CLUB

I thought Hatfield And The North's first, eponymous album was great. But they expanded on that and created an even more fantastic collection of songs with this album. Not content to just play the usual Canterbury style, this group broadens the sound with jazz fusion, and even some rock in opposition (with the help of Henry Cow's Lindsay Cooper and Tim Hodgkinson).

Like the first album, many of the songs flow together, again giving them an epic feeling. Guitarist Phil Miller and keyboardist Dave Stewart are even better on this album than the first. My favorite track (and most RIO) would have to be The Yes No Interlude, with one of the best Miller solos I've ever heard.

The last five tracks were not on the original LP, coming from the odds and ends collection Afters. The best part of these songs is the heavy Oh, Len's Nature! (perhaps the heaviest this band ever played.

4.5 stars, rounded up.